A horror show of hate

Last week the Maine State legislature held a day to hear public comments about a proposed gay marriage bill. Interest in the proceedings got to be so large a sports arena was reserved for the event. Each side was allotted alternating half-hour timeslots with each speaker allotted 3 minutes. Testimony went on all day and well into the evening, with no break for lunch, though one for dinner.

Here is a first-person account of the day. This writer says it was an emotional meat grinder. In one half hour gays spoke of the most wonderful relationships, tested by life and flourishing. These stories were uplifting. Gays also spoke of how the lack of marriage discriminated against them -- people denied access to partners in the hospital and others denied attendance at their partner's funeral. Then came a half hour in which the Fundies rained down abuse. A "horror show of hurt followed by a horror show of hate." Gays would molest kids. Gays were intent on bestiality. Gays want polygamy. Gays need treatment. Gays don't deserve rights. Each Fundie half hour got more shrill. They did not offer documentation to back up their claims. This wasn't deer camp (the author's description), they weren't drunk. They were in public for public record. They wore suits and seriously believed the nonsense they spouted over and over. Gays in attendance had to listen to it again and again.

Our side only spoke the truth. They did not use name-calling. They did not accuse their opponents of all manner of nasty things. They backed up their rebuttals with documentation. And when the goo got ankle deep, they turned their backs.

The response of some gays: Why was the day even needed? Why do we have to plead for our rights?